“What is Picente doing? It is obvious that he has created an election year budget of smoke and mirrors that not only fails to meet state law but uses gimmicks to cover up the failure,” Potocki said. “His budget in actuality is very clearly over the 2 percent cap and he has the gall to claim otherwise. He even takes credit for meeting a law he failed to meet. I wonder if his budget is even legal.”

Potocki pointed to Picente’s plan to defer a portion of the county’s pension costs into the future and another to change the way the county share of Mohawk Valley Community College’s costs is billed to taxpayers.

He also called Picente’s proposal to cut library funding “bordering on absurd.”

Picente has said that he must make the cuts in order to stay below the new state-mandated 2 percent cap on property tax increases. Under Picente’s plan, the libraries are fully funded through July 1, and then cut off completely. Picente has said that if the state Legislature provides meaningful relief for costly mandates, the library funding for the rest of the year could be reinstatement.

Asked about Potocki’s statements, Picente said all his proposals are “within the confines of the law.”

“Pension costs are rising dramatically all across the state,” he said. “The taxpayers could have faced a 10 to 15 percent hike if this were included.”

He also said the MVCC plan is “allowed by law and is being used by several counties.”

Potocki, a Republican, is running on the Conservative Party line against Picente, who has the Republican line. Election Day is Nov. 8.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.